Kansas City is No. 3 in Travel + Leisure’s ‘Best BBQ cities’ ranking

Travel + Leisure magazine asked its readers to vote for “America’s Best Cities for Barbecue.” Kansas City’s Oklahoma Joe’s, Arthur Bryant’s and Gates were cited, as well as the city’s “delectable” burnt ends.

They range from Kansas City’s burnt ends to mustard-sauced pork in Charleston, S.C. to pork-belly po’boys in New Orleans to short ribs smoked over local kiawe wood (similar to mesquite) in Hawaii.

Kansas City was No. 3 on the list.

“Only within the realm of barbecue can a gas-station location boost your appeal. At least that’s the case with Oklahoma Joe’s.....whose first location was inside a Diamond Shamrock,” the magazine said.

Kansas City also is known for its “delectable burnt ends that come off brisket and taste great with a tomatoes-meet-molasses sauce.”

Nashville, No. 1 on the list, was cited for its collection of different barbecue styles — from the “whole-hog approach of rural Tennessee, the tomatoey sauces of Memphis, and even the mayo-and-vinegar white sauces typical of Alabama. And its barbecue menus also may offer such choices as southern-style catfish, fried okra and banana pudding.

Memphis was ranked second for its “dry-rubbed and smoked over hickory, and often mopped with sauce while cooking” style. Along with staples like ribs and pork sandwiches, Memphis area barbecues also offer pulled-pork nachos, and even a four-ounce barbecued bologna sandwich.

Texas rounded out the top five on the list with Austin as No. 4 and Houston as No. 5.

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